Cleansing apparatus for metallic ware.



A. W. OBERMANN. CLBANSING APPARATUS POR METALLIC WARE.

APPLICATION IILED. 0OT.18I 1909.

Patented June .21, l1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A.W. OBERMANN. GLBANSING APPARATUS FOB. METALLIG WARE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 18, 1909. 961,792, Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

l'rwemton www @Winans oN, n` c ANDREW a GRAHAM c0 FHOw-LHHDGRAPHERS.wAsHlNm l UNTTED STATES PATENT @TTTE AUGUST W. OBERMANN, OF JOHNSTOWN,PENNSYLVANIA.

A CLEANSING APPARATUS FOR METALLIC WARE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST W. OBERMANN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCleansing Apparatus for Metallic Vare, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a cleansing apparatus for metallic ware, andmore particularly to an apparatus for thoroughly cleaning pots, pans,and receptacles made of pressed sheet metal and cast iron ware.

The object of my invention is the provision of a novel apparatus forsubjecting a number of receptacles to a cleansing bath to remove rust,incrustations, impurities and all foreign matter that might adhere topressed sheet metal ware and thereby prevent the same from beingenameled, coated, or properly finished.

In the cleaning of pressed or molded metal ware by the use of acid,considerable trouble is experienced by workmen due to the dangerousfumes or gases generated and liberated by the chemical action whichtakes place when the acid contacts with the metal.

The trouble has been of that degree where lives have been sacrificed,and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a safeapparatus for cleansing metal ware, wherein the arrangement andconstruction of the apparatus prevents workmen from inhaling fumes andgases liberated by the chemical action of the metal ware and acid.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for creating adraft in connection with the apparatus for positively removing obnoxiousand dangerous fumes or gases generated and liberated by the chemicalaction which takes place in the apparatus, so, also, for removing acidsor the pickling ingredient from the apparatus.

Further, my invention aims to provide an apparatus for cleaning metalware, wherein the acid or cleansing solution can be safely housed,agitated, and maintained at a temperature which will thoroughly removeall foreign matter from ware deposited in the cleansing solution.V Inconnection with the apparatus, I make use of an limmersing cage, whichpermits of cleansed ware being drained before the same is handled, thusob- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 18, 1909.

Patented J une 21, 1910.

Serial No.' 523,254.

viating the necessity of workmen handling the ware to be cleaned beforethe acid is fully drained therefrom; and also preventing the waste ofthe acid which waste is not only expensive, but is detrimental toobjects with which it comes in contact.

The invention will be hereinafter more fully described, and referencewill now be had to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that thestructural elements thereof can be varied as to shape, proportion andminor details of construction without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention.

In the drawings -Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the same.Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the hood of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 isa longitudinal sectional view of the injector forming a part of theapparatus.

In the drawings, 1 designates the iioor of a factory in which metal wareis produced, this floor being made of concrete or masonry. The floor lis provided with a large recess 2, similar to a tank, said recess havingan inclined bottom 3 terminating at one end of the recess in a gutter 4.

5 designates a wooden or vitreous lining for the recess 2 and the gutter4l thereof, said lining extending above the surface of the floor andbeing of a material not susceptible to the action of the chemical orlcleansing ingredient adapted to be placed in the recess or tank forcleansing the contents thereof.

6 designates a cage or large perforated receptacle adapted to it withinthe recess or tank and hold metal ware, whereby all sides and surfacesof the ware are exposed to the chemical or cleansing solution placed inthe lined recess or tank. The upper end of the cage 6 is provided withsupporting bars 8, adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the lining 5and suspend the cage within the recess or tank. The ends of the bars 8are connected by chains or cables 9 to blocks 10, constituting part ofthe hoist-ing device suspended from beams or girders 1l arranged abovethe iioor l. Manual labor or suitable power driven mechanism can beutilized for operating the hoisting devices to elevate the cage 6 abovethe floor, whereby easy access can be had to the articles within thecage, and whereby acid or the oleasing solution can drain from articlesand said cage.

Since nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric and other acids can be used as acleansing solution, it is obvious that when the metal Ware is immersedin such acids, that dangerous fumes and gases are liberated, which mayimmediately or eventually impair and destroy the lives of workmenemployed for operating the apparatus. For instance, when hydrochloricand sulfuric acids are used, the following chemical actions take place,

Besideshydrogen being liberated the impurities of the metal ware causevapors of chlorin and other dangerous vapors to be liberated.

To safely and quickly carry Gif the vapors and gases above referred to,I provide a rectangular hood 12 having an exhaust stack or flue 13, to achimney or the atmosphere. The hood 12 is adapted to rest upon the floor1 over the lined recess or tank 2 and prevent a dissemination of thegases or vapors in the compartment or room in which the apparatus .islocated. Easy access is had to the interior of the hood 12 through themedium of folding hinged doors 14, and the interior of the hood can beobserved through a window 13a.

The metallic ware to be cleaned by the apparatus is placed in the cage 6and immersed in the acids within the tank or recess 2, and in order toprovide means for increasing the activity of the acid or cleansingsolution by agitation so as to cause the same to contact with all partsof metal ware located in the cage, and also provide sulficient draft tocarry off the fumes and gases liberated by the chemical action thattakes place within the tank, and at the same time provide means forremoving the acid from the tank, I have devised the followingconstruction. 1

14 desi ates an air or steam su y ipe at the re'Il side of the hood 12,Isjfiid gipe having a T 15 provided with branch pipes 16 and 17,provided with valves 18, 18 respectively for controlling the admissionof air or steam to the branch pipes 16 and 17. 'Ihe branch pipe 16extends upwardly into the chimney or exhaust flue 13 of the hood 12, andis adapted to create apartial vacuum within the hood 12 that will tendto remove all gases or fumes that are liberated by the chemical actionthat takes place within the tank or recess 2, the fumes or gases swiftlypassing olf through the chimney or exhaust Hue 13.

The branch pipe 17 extends across the end of the tank or recess 2 abovethe gutter 4 and serves functionally as an injector, said branch pipeextending into an elbow 19 connecting the stand pipe 20 with a drainpipe 21, said stand pipe having the lower end thereof within the gutter4, while the drain pipe 21 extends to a suitable receiving tank `orwaste outlet (not shown) for the acids.

In the operation of the a paratus, the valve 18 in the branch pipe 1 Visnormally maintained in a closed position and valve 18 in pipe 16 isopened whereby air or steam from the pipe 14 will pass into the chimneyor exhaust flue 13 and facilitatek the rapid removal of gases or fumesfrom the hood 12. The valve 18 is only opened when it is desired to4remove the acids from the tank or recess 2, either to clean the tank orrecess 2 or to renew the acids. It is obvious that when steam or air isadmitted to the drain pipe 21 that a vacuum or suction will be createdin the pipe 20 that will withdraw the contents of the tank or recess 2and the gutter 4 thereof. Y

I desire to call attention to an important feature of my inventionadapting it particularly for use as a tank for sulfuric acid, whichprevents a large waste of the acid. Heretofore, it has been thepractice, to make the tanks for use in connection with sul` furic acidof pieces of wood bolted or otherwise secured together, and it was onlyla matter of time until the acid ate its Way or seeped through the cracksand bolt openings of the tank, consequently, the acid left in the tankover night would be wasted by morning, and besides considerable expensebeing incurred in connection with the waste, the fumes of the acidin`the vicinity of the tank are very disagreeable. To obviate thiswaste, I have constructed the tank of concrete, and it is impossible forany leakage or waste to take place from acid stored in such a tank.

I would have it understood that my apparatus is applicable for anyprocess of treating. metal ware with acids or similar liquids, wheredangerous and ill smelling fumes and gases are liberated by a chemicalaction.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new is 1. An apparatusof the type described, comprising a tank having the bottom thereofprovided with a gutter, a movable cage suspended in said tank andadapted to contain metallic ware, a hood mounted over said tank, anexhaust stack carried by said hood, hinged doors carried by said hood topermit of easy access being had to said cage, a pipe extending into saidhood and into the gutter of said tank for removing theA contents of saidtank, a steam supply pipe extending into said tank for agitating thecontents thereof, and means for elevating said cage.

2. An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage movablymounted in said tank, a hood mounted over said tank, an exhaust stackcarried by said hood, a pipe extending into said hood and said tank forremoving the contents of said tank, a steam supply pipe extending intosaid tank for agitating the contents thereof, means for elevating saidcage, and means whereby easy access can be had to said hood.

3. An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage movablymounted in said tank, a hood mounted over said tank, an exhaust stackcarried by said hood, a pipe extending into said hood and said tank forremoving the contents of said tank, a steam supply pipe extending intosaid tank for agitating the contents thereof, and means for elevatingsaid cage.

t. An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage adaptedto be lowered into said tank, a hood mounted over said tank and havingan exhaust stack, a pipe extending into said tank for removing thecontents thereof, and a steam supply pipe extending into said tank foragitating the contents thereof.

5. An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage adaptedto be lowered into said tank, a hood mounted over said tank and havingan exhaust stack, means for elevating the cage from the tank to bring itwithin the hood, doors carried by the hood for aording access to thecage when the latter is within the hood, and a pipe extending into saidtank for removing the contents thereof.

6. An apparatus of the type described comprising a tank adapted tocontain a cleansing solution and having a lining projectng above the topof the tank, a cage adapted to be lowered into said tank and besupported on the upper end of said lining,

a hood arranged overthe tank for exhausting the fumes liberated by thechemicals in the tank, means for elevating the cage within the hood andholding the same in suspension above the tank, and doors in said hoodfor affording access to the cage when the latter is held suspended inthe hood.

7 An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage adaptedto be lowered into said tank, a hood mounted over said tank and havingan exhaust/chimney, a pipe extending into said exhaust chimney forestablishing a draft therein, and a pipe extending into said tank forremoving the contents thereof.

8. An apparatus of the type described, comprising a tank, a cage adaptedto be lowered into said tank, a hood mounted over said tank and havingan exhaust chimney, a pipe extending into said chimney for establishinga draft therein, a pipe extending into said tank for removing thecontents thereof, and a branch of the first mentioned pipe extendinginto the last mentioned pipe for creating a partial vacuum in the lastmentioned p The combination with a tank, and a hood mounted over saidtank and provided with an exhaust chimney, of a pipe extending into saidexhaust chimney for establishing a draft therein, a drain pipe extendinginto said tank for removing the contents thereof, and a branch of thefirst mentioned pipe extending into said drain pipe creating a partialvacuum in said pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

AUGUST W. OBERMANN. Witnesses:

MAx H. SRoLovITz, H. C. EVERT.

